My Little Angel - Friendship Is Holyby YoniChaptersMy Little AngelThe holy sixEating with the enemyMy Little AngelLucifer Morningstar stood on top of Canterlot Mountain, looking down on Equestria with a contemplative look. He let his black wings spread wide open, embers shooting from between his feathers as the mountain's winds hit his bare back. Lucifer shuddered slightly, relishing in the feeling of wind against his feathers. It was almost euphoric to be able to see and fly again after being blind and grounded for months. But Lucifer was not complaining. In fact, the last few months of his life were probably his best. A smile slowly spread across Lucifer's lips as his mind wandered to the pony that made his life so perfect. Luna. Ever since day one, Luna was there for Lucifer. It was almost hard for him to believe that it has been almost a year since the two revealed their true feelings for each other, and every day since was truly magical. Another wave of cold air hit Lucifer's back, causing him to shudder and wrap his wings around his upper body. He turned around, looking at what used to be the tree of life. Now though, it was nothing more than an empty bark and a few thin branches. The tree lost its power when Lucifer plucked the fruit of life from it in order to resurrect Luna after she sacrificed herself to save him. "There you are." A voice said from behind Lucifer, causing him to jump a little in place and turn around sharply, only to be taken by surprise when a pair of lips connected with his. Lucifer calmed down once he realized that it was none other than the light of his life, Luna. Lucifer caressed Luna's cheek once they broke the kiss, getting himself lost in her beautiful turquoise eyes. He leaned closely to Luna until their foreheads pressed against each other. "How did you know I was here?" he whispered lovingly, closing his eyes and letting the faint scent of lilacs invade his nose. Luna nuzzled Lucifer's cheek before replying. "You always come here to think." Lucifer chuckled. "Am I that obvious?" Luna chuckled as well. "About as obvious as they come." The two shared a brief laugh before Lucifer shuddered again. Luna looked down at his bare chest and frowned ever so slightly. "Why are you bare chested? Winter is coming. Do you want to catch a cold?" Lucifer shrugged. "Angels can't catch a cold, love. And as to the why, well, it just feels good, I guess." Luna shook her head from side to side and sighed, looking at Lucifer's bare chest. "Just put something on yourself before you poke somepony's eyes out." He did not know why, but Luna's comment made Lucifer snicker, much to the night princess' dismay. "What is so funny?" Luna asked, smiling despite of herself. Lucifer just continued to chuckle. "Nothing, hehe, you're a funny mare." "Oh, am I…" Luna's smile slowly turned into a smirk as she spread her wings to her sides, the tips of her feathers being dangerously close to Lucifer's exposed belly. Lucifer stopped snickering all at once, looking almost fearfully at Luna. Slowly, Lucifer backed away from the princess. "Umm, love?" "Hmm what, Sweetie?" "Why are you smiling like that?" Lucifer's heart started to beat faster when his back came into contact with the bark of the tree of life. Luna's smirk stretched from ear to ear. "Oh, nothing. Just… tickle, tickle, tickle!" Luna began her relentless assault on Lucifer, brushing her feathers across his belly. Lucifer burst out laughing, falling onto the ground and trying to push Luna away with little success. "Bahahahahaha… Lunahahahahaha… p-please stahahahahap!" "Who is the most beautiful mare in Equestria?" "You ahahahahahahare!" "And will that ever change?" "Nohohohohoho!" "And will you go to the end of the world for me?" "I will b-bring down the mohuhuhuhuhuon for you, hahahahaha!" Satisfied, Luna stopped her assault on Lucifer, letting her wings rest at her side while crouching down and capturing Lucifer's lips with hers. She laid on top of him, shielding his exposed upper body from the cold. Lucifer's wings wrapped around Luna tightly, letting their heat warm Luna as well. The two stayed like this for a while, enjoying each other's company as they kissed. Luna hummed in delight as Lucifer's wings hugged her closer to her lover's body. Never in her life has she felt so secured. Finally though, the need for air forced the two to end their kiss, panting lightly. Lucifer brought his hands up and cupped Luna's face. "I love you so much, Luna." Luna closed her eyes, letting Lucifer's gentle touch sooth her. "I love you too, Morningstar." The two embraced in another kiss. This one was gentler, but filled with emotion that conveyed what words could not. They stayed like this for what felt like hours, relishing in each other's touch. The two broke the kiss, looking into each other's eyes. "You're so beautiful, Luna," Lucifer said softly. Luna smiled, nuzzling Lucifer's cheek before pecking his cute little nose. "You always know what to say to a mare." "Better a happy mare than an angry one," Lucifer reasoned. Luna chuckled before kissing him briefly on the lips. "And you better remember it." Luna rose from her spot on Lucifer and turned around, looking at the setting sun. "Let us return to the castle before it gets too cold." Lucifer rose as well, taking his robes from their perch on one of the branches before putting them on. His robes were light yellow, matching his blonde hair. He flapped his wings once, sending a torrent of embers that quickly dissipated in the cold mountain top. Luna craned her head back and Lucifer smiled. "Come now, dear. I ordered the chef to make us soup tonight." Lucifer's eyes shot open as he stared at Luna with a hopeful gaze. "Is it by any chance a veggie goulash?" Luna giggled at Lucifer's expression before nodding. "Why, yes it is." Lucifer had to suppress a fist pump as he jumped in the air and flapped his wings. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Luna suppressed a snicker as she followed her excited special someone back to the castle. "Greetings Luna, Morningstar," Celestia greeted as both Luna and Lucifer entered the dining hall. "How was your day?" Lucifer was the first to speak. "Good evening, Celestia. My day was fine." Celestia raised an eyebrow, smiling gently. "Only fine?" Lucifer shrugged. "Not a lot happened. I like the quietness." Celestia nodded before facing her sister. "And what about you, Luna? How was your day?" Luna let out a sigh as she took a seat next to Celestia. Lucifer sat on her other side and caressed her back. "Exhausting, but productive." "That is good to hear." Celestia then shifted her gaze to the royal chef as he entered the room with his entourage of waiters, carrying a big lidded pot and bowls made out of bread. A bread-bowl was placed in front of the three diners before the chef himself removed the lid from the pot, revealing a steaming veggie goulash. Lucifer's smile slowly widened as a waiter poured some of the steaming soup into his bread-bowl. The chef and the waiters bowed their heads before leaving the room. Celestia was the first to take a small sip from the soup, humming contently as the hot liquid warmed her throat. "If there is one thing I love about being a princess, it is definitely the food," Celestia commented, earning a giggle from Luna and Lucifer. The three lapsed into a comfortable silence as they ate their soup, occasionally discussing about this and that. Once he was done with the soup, Lucifer ripped a nice chunk out of his bread-bowl and munched on it happily. Back in the time before his fall, Lucifer had no physical needs such as food or rest. Even now, eating and sleeping yield no benefit to the former archangel, and yet, Lucifer still ate and slept. Not because he needed to, but because he could do it. He had never felt as free as he was these last couple of months. Sadly, every good thing must come to an end. With the soup all gone and the bowls eaten, dinner was concluded. Celestia moaned happily as she rubbed her full belly. "Another wonderful meal to end yet another wonderful day." Celestia rose from her seat, Luna and Lucifer following suit, before the three made their way towards their respective chambers. "Well, I guess it's time to hit the hay," Lucifer said once the three stopped in front Luna's chamber, though it could be considered Lucifer's chamber as well. Celestia nodded, nuzzling Luna and hugging Lucifer. "I wish you both a good night's rest," Celestia bid, but before she could set course to her own chambers, a guard pony rushed towards the three before bowing hastily, panting. "Y-Your… Majesties…" the guard panted between breaths. Luna looked down at the guard pony with concern. "Rise," she commanded. The guard pony obeyed. "At ease my little pony. Please collect your thoughts and tell us what it is that has startled you." The guard nodded briskly before taking some time to control his breathing. Once he did he looked at the princesses with a panicked gaze. "There are… strangers in the throne room. They look like Mr. Morningstar and demand for him to come…" A heavy silence dawned upon the hallway. The princesses shared a look of shock and worry while Lucifer's turned morbid and dark. "I knew He would try something like this eventually," he growled before setting course to the throne room. A knife appeared in his hand out of thin air as he grasped it before running the sharp end of the blade across his palm. Lucifer kept walking as exactly two drops of golden blood hit the marble tiles before the wound closed completely. The two drops glowed before turning white like the marble. The drops suddenly shifted, becoming larger and larger until two marble demons took place at each side of Lucifer. Much like the glass demon that attacked Lucifer when his mind was still fogged by amnesia, these demons were also humanoid shape with extremely sharp limbs. Lucifer heard brisk clopping sounds as Luna and Celestia trotted to catch up with Lucifer. "Morningstar, what is going on?" Luna asked, eyeing the marble demons warily. "I don't know why I couldn't sense them before, but I can now," Lucifer responded. "It's Michael. And it appears that he brought company.” Lucifer quickened his pace when he turned around a corner, now gazing at the big double doors leading to the throne room. He stopped right before the doors and turned to face Celestia and Luna. "Luna, Celestia, please forgive me." Before the princesses could open their mouths, Lucifer continued. "Please, do not engage in battle with the archangels. They are my responsibly. My fight." He then turned to face the doors again. "If my senses are correct, there are six archangels in total beyond these doors." "Lucifer-" "Luna, please. I have to do it." Lucifer turned his head to face Luna and smiled. "I love you. And I won't let a single angel lay his fingers on you." With a mighty push, Lucifer threw the doors to the throne room open. "You have a lot of nerve showing your face again, Michael!" Lucifer bellowed. "This time, I wi-" "Lucy!" Lucifer felt two arms wrap around his neck and bring him close to a body. The man smiled from ear to ear as he hugged Lucifer tightly. "Oh boy, I sure was a long time since I last saw you! Say, have you gotten fatter?" Lucifer stared ahead, eyes bulging out of their sockets. Only one thought floated inside Lucifer's mind; God, I hate you so much right now! The holy six Lucifer was pinching the bridge of his nose, mumbling profanities under his breath that would make the pope burst out in tears and cry to his mommy. Celestia and Luna were by his side, staring at him with worry before facing the six angels standing before them. Two piles of white dust on each of Lucifer's sides showed where his summoned demons were once standing. "I told you we should have visited him one by one," one of the angels whispered quite loudly into the ear of a familiar looking face. Michael snorted, putting some space between himself and his comrade before glaring at Lucifer. "Would you stop using The Lord's name in vain, Lucifer?!" Michael growled. Lucifer immediately snapped his head up. If looks could kill, the entire throne room would have been burned to nothing but ashes. "You've got some nerve showing up here again after your defeat last time, Michael," Lucifer all but spat at his former comrade. "Why have you come here, worm? Came to finish the job?" Lucifer assumed a fighting position. "Well come on then! I haven't got all night!" "Why you little-" Michael was interrupted when a hand landed on his shoulder. He craned his neck towards the angel that put his hand on Michael's shoulder before sighing, stepping back. The angel flashed a small, grateful smile towards Michael. Michael scoffed and turned his head away. The angel smiled and shook his head weakly, already accustomed to Michael's antics, before stepping forward. "Peace, Lucifer. We did not come here to fight you," he said. The angel then faced Celestia and Luna, bowing his head slightly. "Greetings, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gabriel, a pleasure." The princesses exchanged confused looks before focusing their gazes on Gabriel. He, much like the others, had a pair of wings. His were brown that turned slightly lighter at their tips. His body was clothed with what appeared to be a decorated, golden tunic and golden sandals. Gabriel's hair was pulled backwards into a braid. Much like Lucifer, Gabriel was also quite pale. Gabriel stepped back, allowing another angel to take place. "It is a pleasure making your acquaintance. My name is Uriel." Uriel bowed his head as well. He had dark blue wings that turned into a soft green at the tips. His tunic was greenish yellow in color with his golden sandals. A red silky sheet was loosely wrapped around his form. Uriel's hair was black and smooth, spilling on the front of his shoulders, framing his face. Uriel returned to the line of angels as another one stepped forward. "Blessings be upon you, princesses. My name is Cassiel." Cassiel's attire was a striking contrast compared to the others. His tunic and sandals were purely silver, with a similar red sheet wrapped around his body. His hair, also silvery, was smooth and silky, even more silky than Lucifer. His wings were dark gray up until the joints, and then faded into a lighter shade of gray at the tips. Before Cassiel had the chance to step back, another angel –the same one that hugged Lucifer- stepped forward and shoved Cassiel out of the way. Despite that, Cassiel merely shook his head in disapproval at his comrade's antics. The angel smiled brightly before introducing himself. "Heya! Name's Azrael!" The ecstatic angel was probably the most unique looking out of the six angels. His skin was bluish gray, his raven black hair was short and combed backwards, and his wings were dark blue. Instead of the formal tunics that his comrades wore, Azrael's attire was mostly sheets of dark blue and black with only a decorative bronze breastplate. The next angel in line walked right up to the princesses and knelt down, taking Celestia's hoof in his hand and gave it a gentle peck. "It is an honor to be in the presence of such radiant and beautiful beings such as you." The angel stood up and smiled brightly at Celestia and Luna, the former blushed brightly. "I am Raphael, it's pleasure to meet you." Raphael's skin –unlike his comrades- was tan rather than pale. His chestnut, wavy brown hair was also quite shorter, only reaching to his shoulders. He wore a light blue tunic with gold trimmings and sheet of magenta wrapped around his torso. His wings had a creamy color to them that almost appeared white. Raphael stepped back to join with the others. Only one angel was left unintroduced. "Lucifer," Michael said. "Michael," Lucifer replied. "To what do we owe the displeasure?" he inquired, his voice dripped with venom and malice. Michael sneered and averted his gaze from Lucifer, keeping his silence. Trying to relieve some of the tension, Gabriel stepped forward. "We were told by The Lord to be here." Lucifer raised his brow. Luna could feel power building inside of him. His muscles tensed. "Oh? So He did order you to take me down, didn't He?" Gabriel shook his head. "No.His Holiness was very specific that no harm shall come to you by any of us. He wants to gain your trust back." Lucifer's muscles relaxed, but his power was still ready to obliterate anything in his path, should the need arise. "You don't understand, do you," Lucifer started. "My faith in Him died the moment He branded me a traitor. Nothing can mend that. He sent you on a fool's errand." Gabriel sighed, looking over at the others before facing Lucifer again. "I understand your distrust in Him, Lucifer. But please, do not release that anger on us. We were merely following orders. You know we cannot defy His wishes." Lucifer scoffed, throwing his hand in a dismissive gesture. "My history and actions proves your statement wrong." "You chose your path. We chose ours. There is no reason why we cannot live together in peace and harmony." Lucifer took a single step back, his hand subconsciously starting to caress Luna. The night princess looked worryingly at her lover. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head. "Morningstar? Honey? Maybe we should discuss things in the morning, when we are all refreshed and cool-headed." Luna's offer was tempting. Dealing with his former brothers-in-arms is way too taxing this late in the night. Memories of times long since passed started flooding Lucifer. Each of the archangels before him was like a brother. To have such a strong bond shatter has cut Lucifer deeper than any weapon. Finally, Lucifer sighed and turned to face Luna so the princess could see just how tired Lucifer was. It was not a simple fatigue that came with a lack of proper rest. It was an ancient weariness, one that comes with eternal life. It was a burden that Luna knew all too well. Instead of answering with words, Lucifer embraced Luna in a tight hug, capturing her lips with his in a gentle embrace of caring and tenderness. Luna let herself be swept in the moment before realizing that she was pretty much making out with her special someone in front of her sister and six other strangers. She broke the kiss, still in Lucifer's embrace, and giggled bashfully. "Maybe we should continue this in the privacy of our bedroom?" she offered, looking around, seeing Celestia's smirk. Even Azrael had to suppress a snicker of his own. Celestia shook her head slightly, still smiling, before facing the other archangels. "Perhaps it would be best if we discuss your arrival here tomorrow over breakfast. I will have the maids prepare each of you a room for the time being. I hope that it is acceptable." "Archangels do not require sleep. Or food for that matter," Michael said, sounding as condescending as Lucifer remembered him back when he was still under God's employ. Gabriel thrust his elbow straight into Michael's ribs, causing him to flinch. Michael was about to retort but a single glare from Gabriel made him reconsider his words. Eventually, Michael sighed and faced Celestia. "We would be eternally grateful, your highness," he said, bowing ever so slightly. Lucifer smirked. He feared that when he fell from grace, there would be no one to keep tabs on Michael, but it appeared that Gabriel was handling things even better than Lucifer ever did. Michael was always too condescending, and Lucifer was usually the one who put him in his place. It was good to know that Gabriel 'inherited' Michael's leash from Lucifer when the latter fell from grace. Smiling brightly, Celestia turned around and gestured everyone to follow her. On her way, Celestia ordered a maid to prepare six rooms for her guests. By the time all nine reached the living area of the castle, all six rooms were ready. After everyone said their goodnights, each went to his or her room. Lucifer followed Luna into their shared bedroom and promptly collapsed on their bed. "I bet God is laughing his ass off right now," he muttered, rubbing the side of his head with one hand. "Relax, Morningstar. Keeping so much anger inside you is not healthy, you should know." Luna adopted a forlorn expression as she thought back to the time she was still Nightmare Moon. It was the darkest part of her life, now, and probably forever. Luna did not want to see her lover succumb to the same feelings that corrupted her. Lucifer's expression softened as he rose from his bed to a sitting position and patted the spot beside him. Luna quickly hopped on the bed and nuzzled Lucifer's side as he did the same. "You're right, love. It's not healthy keeping these emotions inside but so does one's past failures. What you were in the past does not dictate what you are now. You regretted your mistakes, and you tried your hardest to fix them. You are a wonderful mare, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Luna smiled. She knew that she should not feel guilty for what she did so many years ago, but the feeling just simply would not go away. She felt so lucky to have Lucifer to be her anchor. It was quite funny, considering she was his anchor for such a long time. Luna's smile turned less innocent as she used her magic to push Lucifer on his back. Before he could even voice his surprise, he found two pair of soft lips slam into his, Luna's form straddled his as the kiss turned more and more needy as time progressed. By the time Luna broke the kiss, the two panted heavily and their eyes shone with want of each other. Luna yelped when she felt Lucifer's arm wrap around her and bring her down on the mattress. Lucifer bent down until his warm breath tickled Luna's ear. "I will make you scream so hard that the entire city will know of our love," he whispered. Luna could feel a certain part of her getting quite damp as Lucifer started to work on her body in ways she had never thought were possible. Michael sighed in relief as the constant moans and shouts finally ceased. They started almost as soon as Michael's head hit the pillow, and had been continuing for the better part of the night. Frustrated and with nothing better to do, Michael rose from the bed and walked through the doors leading out to a balcony overlooking the land. Even Michael had to admit that the view was breathtaking. Everything from the distant snow-capped mountains in the horizon to the star-filled skies was simply stunning. For the first time since his arrival, Michael found himself smiling. This smile, however, vanished almost instantly when he felt something behind him. "I know you are there. There is no need to hide," Michael called. Lucifer emerged from the shadows, glaring at Michael. "I did not attempt to hide. In fact, I came here to talk." Michael raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You certainly did not seem very talkative earlier today." Lucifer squinted his eyes but otherwise remained still. "Listen very carefully Michael, because I will only say it once: Stay. Away. From Luna. If you touch her, if a single strand of hair drops from her mane-" Lucifer's left arm suddenly turned black and crooked, supporting nasty looking claws. "-I will show you hell that you wouldn't believe." Michael did not utter a single word, instead opting to stare at Lucifer's arm. He swallowed hard before looking up at Lucifer's eyes. His gray orbs promised pain and suffering. "Do I make myself clear?" Lucifer whispered harshly. Michael nodded. "Good. And remember, the others might get me in a fight but not before I turn your head into a fucking canoe." And with that said, Lucifer was swallowed by the darkness, leaving Michael alone once again. Eating with the enemyLucifer groggily opened his eyes as the sun rays hit his face with a vengeance. Despite the fact that he did not require any form of rest he simply felt exhausted. The fact that his former comrades were residing in the castle he was living has kept the fallen angel from falling asleep. Lucifer tried to adjust himself in the bed, an act that was considerably harder than usual thanks to a certain blue alicorn. Luna sighed contently as she nuzzled Lucifer's neck, her hooves tightening around him ever so slightly. Looking down at Luna, Lucifer could not help but smile softly. She looked so calm and content. Lucifer wanted nothing more in life but to see Luna happy. "At least someone is having a good time," Lucifer silently whispered to no one in particular. He wrapped his arms around Luna, feeling the rise and fall of her chest, the heat of her breath on his neck, and the velvety touch of her coat. Lucifer managed to free his wings from under his back and encased himself and Luna in a black, feathery cocoon. The warmth of his feathers earned a sigh of content from the both of them. After a while of rest Lucifer felt Luna shuffling next to him. Luna's eyes fluttered open, looking up and meeting Lucifer's gaze. Lucifer smiled before kissing Luna on the nose. "Good morning, princess." Luna hummed, pecking Lucifer on the lips. "Good morning to you too, my little angel." "Former angel," Lucifer corrected. "Hmm, depends on who you ask…" Luna replied groggily. "You're too cute for words, you know that?" "I had a feeling." Lucifer chuckled, shuffling in bed. "Well, as much as I would love nothing more than to continue this playful banter, I have a shower with my name on it, so…" Luna sighed before releasing Lucifer from her grip. Lucifer hopped off the bed and stretched, his wing tips almost touching the opposite ends of the room. He turned to face Luna and asked, "What about you, Luna? You coming?" Luna shook her head. "I think I will sleep in for a little longer." Lucifer nodded, mainly to himself, and entered the lavish bathroom adjacent to his shared bedroom with Luna. Lucifer enjoyed a thorough shower before stepping in front of the mirror above the sink. The former angel inspected his reflection, paying close attention to the scars he had around his eyes, a permanent reminder of his failure to conquer heaven and a personal symbol of shame. "Really? I need to shave again?" he spoke to himself. Lucifer looked at the straight razor lying on the counter next to the sink and shook his head. "Maybe some other time. I can't be bothered right now." Making sure his teeth were brushed, Lucifer stepped out of the bathroom just in time for Luna rose from their shared bed. "Bathroom all yours, Luna. I'll be heading for the dining hall and make sure our… ugh… 'guests' are not doing anything stupid." Luna giggled before giving Lucifer a brief kiss and walking past him. "I'll meet you there shortly. Try not to strangle our guests." "I make no promises," Lucifer replied as he exited the bedroom and made his way towards the dining hall. During his walk there Lucifer let out a pulse of pure energy, undetectable by ponies since it did not rely on their own magic but rather, his own unique one. After a few moments of nothing noteworthy happening, Lucifer sent out another, stronger, pulse. Lucifer's eyes shifted for a fraction of a second when he picked a tremendous amount of force being centered inside the very place he was heading towards. "It seems that my 'friends' are already up and about, joy," Lucifer grumbled, walking a bit faster. The gears in his mind worked overtime as he tried to come into grips with recent events. God was playing another one of his little games and Lucifer had no intention of participating. Sending the six archangels who hunted Lucifer down during his insurrection is more than infuriating, it was demeaning. Lucifer was better than that. Lucifer ignored the two guards that stood vigilant next to the door leading to the dining hall and practically went through it if one of the guards had not pushed the door open. Lucifer ignored the stares as he made his way to his seat next to Celestia, only… "This is my spot," Lucifer spoke coldly, looking down at Michael. "That is odd," Michael responded, "I did not see your name written on it." Lucifer raised his brow. Did Michael just back talked to him? The kid had more balls than what Lucifer gave him credit for, but ultimately, he was playing with fire. "That's because if you don't find somewhere else to sit, I will carve my name into your skull." Michael adjusted himself in 'his' seat. "If you think even for a moment that I am afraid of you than-" "Michael, find another place to sit!" Gabriel's voice rang across the hall, gaining the attention of the two rivaling angels. Michael clenched his fists under the table before taking a big breath. He stood up from the seat and chose to sit next to Gabriel. That's right cub, learn your place… Lucifer sat next to Celestia, who watched the entire thing unfold while reading the morning newspaper. "Good morning, Celestia. Sorry that you had to waste your precious time next to that uptight prick." Celestia chuckled. "I lived for more than a thousand years, Morningstar. I think I can survive a few minutes." Lucifer huffed, glaring at the others. "Unless they stab you in the back," he muttered. "Pardon?" "Oh nothing, just the rumblings of a tired man. Say, did you finish reading the newspaper?" Lucifer asked. "Why yes. Do you want to read?" Celestia levitated the newspaper towards Lucifer. The fallen angel took the newspaper from the air and willed a pen in his hand before opening the newspaper on the very last page and putting on his reading glasses. "No, I just enjoy solving the crossword puzzle," Lucifer answered as he started scribbling down. "A place of eternal punishment, eight words… hmm.. ah! Tartarus!" "Hey Lucy, what's up with the glasses?" Azrael asked. "I thought Angels don't need glasses." Lucifer rolled his eyes before addressing Azrael. "You see Azrael, when one's eyes were gouged out, most violently I must add, it would sometimes cause medical issues down the line. I'm only grateful that I need only reading glasses." That seemed to shut Azrael up as the room lapsed into an awkward silence. The six archangels stared at Lucifer as he deliberately ignored them, jutting down on the newspaper. Meanwhile, Celestia took advantage of her distracted guests to inspect them in detail. Raphael and Azrael sat together, the former whispering something to the latter while the latter merely nodded, only half listening. Looking closely it was apparent that Azrael's attention was easily distracted, seeing as he often glanced across the room and follow the intricate tapestries that lined the walls of the vast room. A glance to the other side of the table revealed Gabriel, Uriel and Cassiel in deep conversation, the three occasionally glancing towards Lucifer and Michael. And speaking of Michael… The man glared at Lucifer as if in the hopes it would be enough to physically hurt him. Celestia sensed that the two shared a much deeper past than what she initially expected. She wondered why Michael called Lucifer a traitor. She only knew bits and pieces about Lucifer's past. Any attempts to bring the subject up before Lucifer was met with the same results. Lucifer would claim that he would rather forget the past and instead focus on the future, and then he would change the subject. The air was so tense that even the guards that lined the walls of the hall fidgeted uncomfortably in their places, so it was with little to no surprise that when Luna strutted into the hall every eye turned towards her. "Apologies for the delay," Luna declared as she made her way to her seat next to Celestia and Lucifer. "I had… important business to attend to." Lucifer cracked a smile. He knew that by 'important business' what Luna actually meant was that she had taken her sweet time in the bath. Lucifer's smile grew when Luna pecked his cheek after she sat down next to him. "So, now that we are all present-" Celestia started, clapping her hooves together. An impressive amount of chefs and butlers came through a side entrance to the dining hall, carrying all sorts of foods, "-Dig in!" Lucifer watched with curiosity as the archangels grabbed whatever suit them fancy and started eating in earnest, the only one who did not take anything was, of course, mister stick-in-the-ass himself. "Is there a particular reason why you are not eating anything, Angel Michael?" Celestia inquired, eating a spoonful of cereals. Today was her cheat day, and she was going to abuse it indefinitely. "Angels do not require sustenance, we do not gain anything by eating," Michael replied. "Still, it is not polite to turn down your hostess, especially since we will be staying here for the foreseeable future. And besides-" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone! What do you mean by 'foreseeable future'?!" Lucifer exclaimed, cutting Cassiel off. "You're not actually thinking about staying here, do you?!" "We are." Cassiel cleaned his mouth with a napkin before continuing. "As from this day until further notice, you, Lucifer Morning star are under the watch of the forces of heaven and will be confined to this world until your punishment is decided." "This is ridiculous! An outrage! I have been pardoned by God himself!" Lucifer rose from his seat, his blood boiling. "You have been pardoned for your actions against God and the kingdom of heaven, Lucifer!" Cassiel exclaim, rising from his seat as well. "But you have committed atrocities against mortal-kind! This is not up for debate! Or-" the other archangels rose from their seats. "You would rather have your punishment here and now…" Silence. Completely and utter silence. Both Luna and Celestia stared curiously at Lucifer, who seemed to be glaring at the others, but despite his efforts to hide it, the princesses saw something else under the mask of fury. It was dread. Anxiety. Petrifying fear. "I… understand…" Lucifer finally said, sitting down. The others followed suit. "Splendid!" Cassiel smiled as if nothing has happened. "Believe me when I tell you Lucifer that I want nothing more than to see you happy." "Oh really?" Lucifer asked skeptically. "Where was this empathy when I was hunted down like an animal?" Raphael sighed, facing Lucifer. "Please Lucifer, try to see it from our point of view. You are our brother. It tore us apart when we had to fight you." Lucifer scoffed, sending a nasty glare towards Raphael. "I have no brothers." Lucifer looked down at his plate before rising from his seat, looking down at Luna, who looked up at him with worried eyes. "Excuse me. I need time to think." Instead of walking out of the dining hall, Lucifer turned into a shroud of black smoke and embers and passed through the windows, disappearing from sight. "He didn't really mean that, did he?" Azrael asked, looking sadly where Lucifer was last seen. "Lucifer is simply mad because he believes that he has permission to do whatever he pleases," Uriel replied, taking a sip from his cup of tea. "He is, however, gravely mistaken." "I am sorry to interrupt your conversation," Celestia started, gaining the attention of all six angels. "But what Morningstar did to force such a response?" "I am sorry princess, truly, but we are not allowed to speak of it with others," Cassiel replied. Luna stood up from her seat, looking around before finally setting her gaze on Celestia. "I will look for Morningstar, I hope you can understand, Tia." "I am, sister, may fortune favor you." Luna nodded and gathered her magic, and with a flash of blue, Luna teleported away.
My Little AngelLucifer Morningstar stood on top of Canterlot Mountain, looking down on Equestria with a contemplative look. He let his black wings spread wide open, embers shooting from between his feathers as the mountain's winds hit his bare back. Lucifer shuddered slightly, relishing in the feeling of wind against his feathers. It was almost euphoric to be able to see and fly again after being blind and grounded for months. But Lucifer was not complaining. In fact, the last few months of his life were probably his best. A smile slowly spread across Lucifer's lips as his mind wandered to the pony that made his life so perfect. Luna. Ever since day one, Luna was there for Lucifer. It was almost hard for him to believe that it has been almost a year since the two revealed their true feelings for each other, and every day since was truly magical. Another wave of cold air hit Lucifer's back, causing him to shudder and wrap his wings around his upper body. He turned around, looking at what used to be the tree of life. Now though, it was nothing more than an empty bark and a few thin branches. The tree lost its power when Lucifer plucked the fruit of life from it in order to resurrect Luna after she sacrificed herself to save him. "There you are." A voice said from behind Lucifer, causing him to jump a little in place and turn around sharply, only to be taken by surprise when a pair of lips connected with his. Lucifer calmed down once he realized that it was none other than the light of his life, Luna. Lucifer caressed Luna's cheek once they broke the kiss, getting himself lost in her beautiful turquoise eyes. He leaned closely to Luna until their foreheads pressed against each other. "How did you know I was here?" he whispered lovingly, closing his eyes and letting the faint scent of lilacs invade his nose. Luna nuzzled Lucifer's cheek before replying. "You always come here to think." Lucifer chuckled. "Am I that obvious?" Luna chuckled as well. "About as obvious as they come." The two shared a brief laugh before Lucifer shuddered again. Luna looked down at his bare chest and frowned ever so slightly. "Why are you bare chested? Winter is coming. Do you want to catch a cold?" Lucifer shrugged. "Angels can't catch a cold, love. And as to the why, well, it just feels good, I guess." Luna shook her head from side to side and sighed, looking at Lucifer's bare chest. "Just put something on yourself before you poke somepony's eyes out." He did not know why, but Luna's comment made Lucifer snicker, much to the night princess' dismay. "What is so funny?" Luna asked, smiling despite of herself. Lucifer just continued to chuckle. "Nothing, hehe, you're a funny mare." "Oh, am I…" Luna's smile slowly turned into a smirk as she spread her wings to her sides, the tips of her feathers being dangerously close to Lucifer's exposed belly. Lucifer stopped snickering all at once, looking almost fearfully at Luna. Slowly, Lucifer backed away from the princess. "Umm, love?" "Hmm what, Sweetie?" "Why are you smiling like that?" Lucifer's heart started to beat faster when his back came into contact with the bark of the tree of life. Luna's smirk stretched from ear to ear. "Oh, nothing. Just… tickle, tickle, tickle!" Luna began her relentless assault on Lucifer, brushing her feathers across his belly. Lucifer burst out laughing, falling onto the ground and trying to push Luna away with little success. "Bahahahahaha… Lunahahahahaha… p-please stahahahahap!" "Who is the most beautiful mare in Equestria?" "You ahahahahahahare!" "And will that ever change?" "Nohohohohoho!" "And will you go to the end of the world for me?" "I will b-bring down the mohuhuhuhuhuon for you, hahahahaha!" Satisfied, Luna stopped her assault on Lucifer, letting her wings rest at her side while crouching down and capturing Lucifer's lips with hers. She laid on top of him, shielding his exposed upper body from the cold. Lucifer's wings wrapped around Luna tightly, letting their heat warm Luna as well. The two stayed like this for a while, enjoying each other's company as they kissed. Luna hummed in delight as Lucifer's wings hugged her closer to her lover's body. Never in her life has she felt so secured. Finally though, the need for air forced the two to end their kiss, panting lightly. Lucifer brought his hands up and cupped Luna's face. "I love you so much, Luna." Luna closed her eyes, letting Lucifer's gentle touch sooth her. "I love you too, Morningstar." The two embraced in another kiss. This one was gentler, but filled with emotion that conveyed what words could not. They stayed like this for what felt like hours, relishing in each other's touch. The two broke the kiss, looking into each other's eyes. "You're so beautiful, Luna," Lucifer said softly. Luna smiled, nuzzling Lucifer's cheek before pecking his cute little nose. "You always know what to say to a mare." "Better a happy mare than an angry one," Lucifer reasoned. Luna chuckled before kissing him briefly on the lips. "And you better remember it." Luna rose from her spot on Lucifer and turned around, looking at the setting sun. "Let us return to the castle before it gets too cold." Lucifer rose as well, taking his robes from their perch on one of the branches before putting them on. His robes were light yellow, matching his blonde hair. He flapped his wings once, sending a torrent of embers that quickly dissipated in the cold mountain top. Luna craned her head back and Lucifer smiled. "Come now, dear. I ordered the chef to make us soup tonight." Lucifer's eyes shot open as he stared at Luna with a hopeful gaze. "Is it by any chance a veggie goulash?" Luna giggled at Lucifer's expression before nodding. "Why, yes it is." Lucifer had to suppress a fist pump as he jumped in the air and flapped his wings. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Luna suppressed a snicker as she followed her excited special someone back to the castle. "Greetings Luna, Morningstar," Celestia greeted as both Luna and Lucifer entered the dining hall. "How was your day?" Lucifer was the first to speak. "Good evening, Celestia. My day was fine." Celestia raised an eyebrow, smiling gently. "Only fine?" Lucifer shrugged. "Not a lot happened. I like the quietness." Celestia nodded before facing her sister. "And what about you, Luna? How was your day?" Luna let out a sigh as she took a seat next to Celestia. Lucifer sat on her other side and caressed her back. "Exhausting, but productive." "That is good to hear." Celestia then shifted her gaze to the royal chef as he entered the room with his entourage of waiters, carrying a big lidded pot and bowls made out of bread. A bread-bowl was placed in front of the three diners before the chef himself removed the lid from the pot, revealing a steaming veggie goulash. Lucifer's smile slowly widened as a waiter poured some of the steaming soup into his bread-bowl. The chef and the waiters bowed their heads before leaving the room. Celestia was the first to take a small sip from the soup, humming contently as the hot liquid warmed her throat. "If there is one thing I love about being a princess, it is definitely the food," Celestia commented, earning a giggle from Luna and Lucifer. The three lapsed into a comfortable silence as they ate their soup, occasionally discussing about this and that. Once he was done with the soup, Lucifer ripped a nice chunk out of his bread-bowl and munched on it happily. Back in the time before his fall, Lucifer had no physical needs such as food or rest. Even now, eating and sleeping yield no benefit to the former archangel, and yet, Lucifer still ate and slept. Not because he needed to, but because he could do it. He had never felt as free as he was these last couple of months. Sadly, every good thing must come to an end. With the soup all gone and the bowls eaten, dinner was concluded. Celestia moaned happily as she rubbed her full belly. "Another wonderful meal to end yet another wonderful day." Celestia rose from her seat, Luna and Lucifer following suit, before the three made their way towards their respective chambers. "Well, I guess it's time to hit the hay," Lucifer said once the three stopped in front Luna's chamber, though it could be considered Lucifer's chamber as well. Celestia nodded, nuzzling Luna and hugging Lucifer. "I wish you both a good night's rest," Celestia bid, but before she could set course to her own chambers, a guard pony rushed towards the three before bowing hastily, panting. "Y-Your… Majesties…" the guard panted between breaths. Luna looked down at the guard pony with concern. "Rise," she commanded. The guard pony obeyed. "At ease my little pony. Please collect your thoughts and tell us what it is that has startled you." The guard nodded briskly before taking some time to control his breathing. Once he did he looked at the princesses with a panicked gaze. "There are… strangers in the throne room. They look like Mr. Morningstar and demand for him to come…" A heavy silence dawned upon the hallway. The princesses shared a look of shock and worry while Lucifer's turned morbid and dark. "I knew He would try something like this eventually," he growled before setting course to the throne room. A knife appeared in his hand out of thin air as he grasped it before running the sharp end of the blade across his palm. Lucifer kept walking as exactly two drops of golden blood hit the marble tiles before the wound closed completely. The two drops glowed before turning white like the marble. The drops suddenly shifted, becoming larger and larger until two marble demons took place at each side of Lucifer. Much like the glass demon that attacked Lucifer when his mind was still fogged by amnesia, these demons were also humanoid shape with extremely sharp limbs. Lucifer heard brisk clopping sounds as Luna and Celestia trotted to catch up with Lucifer. "Morningstar, what is going on?" Luna asked, eyeing the marble demons warily. "I don't know why I couldn't sense them before, but I can now," Lucifer responded. "It's Michael. And it appears that he brought company.” Lucifer quickened his pace when he turned around a corner, now gazing at the big double doors leading to the throne room. He stopped right before the doors and turned to face Celestia and Luna. "Luna, Celestia, please forgive me." Before the princesses could open their mouths, Lucifer continued. "Please, do not engage in battle with the archangels. They are my responsibly. My fight." He then turned to face the doors again. "If my senses are correct, there are six archangels in total beyond these doors." "Lucifer-" "Luna, please. I have to do it." Lucifer turned his head to face Luna and smiled. "I love you. And I won't let a single angel lay his fingers on you." With a mighty push, Lucifer threw the doors to the throne room open. "You have a lot of nerve showing your face again, Michael!" Lucifer bellowed. "This time, I wi-" "Lucy!" Lucifer felt two arms wrap around his neck and bring him close to a body. The man smiled from ear to ear as he hugged Lucifer tightly. "Oh boy, I sure was a long time since I last saw you! Say, have you gotten fatter?" Lucifer stared ahead, eyes bulging out of their sockets. Only one thought floated inside Lucifer's mind; God, I hate you so much right now!
The holy six Lucifer was pinching the bridge of his nose, mumbling profanities under his breath that would make the pope burst out in tears and cry to his mommy. Celestia and Luna were by his side, staring at him with worry before facing the six angels standing before them. Two piles of white dust on each of Lucifer's sides showed where his summoned demons were once standing. "I told you we should have visited him one by one," one of the angels whispered quite loudly into the ear of a familiar looking face. Michael snorted, putting some space between himself and his comrade before glaring at Lucifer. "Would you stop using The Lord's name in vain, Lucifer?!" Michael growled. Lucifer immediately snapped his head up. If looks could kill, the entire throne room would have been burned to nothing but ashes. "You've got some nerve showing up here again after your defeat last time, Michael," Lucifer all but spat at his former comrade. "Why have you come here, worm? Came to finish the job?" Lucifer assumed a fighting position. "Well come on then! I haven't got all night!" "Why you little-" Michael was interrupted when a hand landed on his shoulder. He craned his neck towards the angel that put his hand on Michael's shoulder before sighing, stepping back. The angel flashed a small, grateful smile towards Michael. Michael scoffed and turned his head away. The angel smiled and shook his head weakly, already accustomed to Michael's antics, before stepping forward. "Peace, Lucifer. We did not come here to fight you," he said. The angel then faced Celestia and Luna, bowing his head slightly. "Greetings, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gabriel, a pleasure." The princesses exchanged confused looks before focusing their gazes on Gabriel. He, much like the others, had a pair of wings. His were brown that turned slightly lighter at their tips. His body was clothed with what appeared to be a decorated, golden tunic and golden sandals. Gabriel's hair was pulled backwards into a braid. Much like Lucifer, Gabriel was also quite pale. Gabriel stepped back, allowing another angel to take place. "It is a pleasure making your acquaintance. My name is Uriel." Uriel bowed his head as well. He had dark blue wings that turned into a soft green at the tips. His tunic was greenish yellow in color with his golden sandals. A red silky sheet was loosely wrapped around his form. Uriel's hair was black and smooth, spilling on the front of his shoulders, framing his face. Uriel returned to the line of angels as another one stepped forward. "Blessings be upon you, princesses. My name is Cassiel." Cassiel's attire was a striking contrast compared to the others. His tunic and sandals were purely silver, with a similar red sheet wrapped around his body. His hair, also silvery, was smooth and silky, even more silky than Lucifer. His wings were dark gray up until the joints, and then faded into a lighter shade of gray at the tips. Before Cassiel had the chance to step back, another angel –the same one that hugged Lucifer- stepped forward and shoved Cassiel out of the way. Despite that, Cassiel merely shook his head in disapproval at his comrade's antics. The angel smiled brightly before introducing himself. "Heya! Name's Azrael!" The ecstatic angel was probably the most unique looking out of the six angels. His skin was bluish gray, his raven black hair was short and combed backwards, and his wings were dark blue. Instead of the formal tunics that his comrades wore, Azrael's attire was mostly sheets of dark blue and black with only a decorative bronze breastplate. The next angel in line walked right up to the princesses and knelt down, taking Celestia's hoof in his hand and gave it a gentle peck. "It is an honor to be in the presence of such radiant and beautiful beings such as you." The angel stood up and smiled brightly at Celestia and Luna, the former blushed brightly. "I am Raphael, it's pleasure to meet you." Raphael's skin –unlike his comrades- was tan rather than pale. His chestnut, wavy brown hair was also quite shorter, only reaching to his shoulders. He wore a light blue tunic with gold trimmings and sheet of magenta wrapped around his torso. His wings had a creamy color to them that almost appeared white. Raphael stepped back to join with the others. Only one angel was left unintroduced. "Lucifer," Michael said. "Michael," Lucifer replied. "To what do we owe the displeasure?" he inquired, his voice dripped with venom and malice. Michael sneered and averted his gaze from Lucifer, keeping his silence. Trying to relieve some of the tension, Gabriel stepped forward. "We were told by The Lord to be here." Lucifer raised his brow. Luna could feel power building inside of him. His muscles tensed. "Oh? So He did order you to take me down, didn't He?" Gabriel shook his head. "No.His Holiness was very specific that no harm shall come to you by any of us. He wants to gain your trust back." Lucifer's muscles relaxed, but his power was still ready to obliterate anything in his path, should the need arise. "You don't understand, do you," Lucifer started. "My faith in Him died the moment He branded me a traitor. Nothing can mend that. He sent you on a fool's errand." Gabriel sighed, looking over at the others before facing Lucifer again. "I understand your distrust in Him, Lucifer. But please, do not release that anger on us. We were merely following orders. You know we cannot defy His wishes." Lucifer scoffed, throwing his hand in a dismissive gesture. "My history and actions proves your statement wrong." "You chose your path. We chose ours. There is no reason why we cannot live together in peace and harmony." Lucifer took a single step back, his hand subconsciously starting to caress Luna. The night princess looked worryingly at her lover. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head. "Morningstar? Honey? Maybe we should discuss things in the morning, when we are all refreshed and cool-headed." Luna's offer was tempting. Dealing with his former brothers-in-arms is way too taxing this late in the night. Memories of times long since passed started flooding Lucifer. Each of the archangels before him was like a brother. To have such a strong bond shatter has cut Lucifer deeper than any weapon. Finally, Lucifer sighed and turned to face Luna so the princess could see just how tired Lucifer was. It was not a simple fatigue that came with a lack of proper rest. It was an ancient weariness, one that comes with eternal life. It was a burden that Luna knew all too well. Instead of answering with words, Lucifer embraced Luna in a tight hug, capturing her lips with his in a gentle embrace of caring and tenderness. Luna let herself be swept in the moment before realizing that she was pretty much making out with her special someone in front of her sister and six other strangers. She broke the kiss, still in Lucifer's embrace, and giggled bashfully. "Maybe we should continue this in the privacy of our bedroom?" she offered, looking around, seeing Celestia's smirk. Even Azrael had to suppress a snicker of his own. Celestia shook her head slightly, still smiling, before facing the other archangels. "Perhaps it would be best if we discuss your arrival here tomorrow over breakfast. I will have the maids prepare each of you a room for the time being. I hope that it is acceptable." "Archangels do not require sleep. Or food for that matter," Michael said, sounding as condescending as Lucifer remembered him back when he was still under God's employ. Gabriel thrust his elbow straight into Michael's ribs, causing him to flinch. Michael was about to retort but a single glare from Gabriel made him reconsider his words. Eventually, Michael sighed and faced Celestia. "We would be eternally grateful, your highness," he said, bowing ever so slightly. Lucifer smirked. He feared that when he fell from grace, there would be no one to keep tabs on Michael, but it appeared that Gabriel was handling things even better than Lucifer ever did. Michael was always too condescending, and Lucifer was usually the one who put him in his place. It was good to know that Gabriel 'inherited' Michael's leash from Lucifer when the latter fell from grace. Smiling brightly, Celestia turned around and gestured everyone to follow her. On her way, Celestia ordered a maid to prepare six rooms for her guests. By the time all nine reached the living area of the castle, all six rooms were ready. After everyone said their goodnights, each went to his or her room. Lucifer followed Luna into their shared bedroom and promptly collapsed on their bed. "I bet God is laughing his ass off right now," he muttered, rubbing the side of his head with one hand. "Relax, Morningstar. Keeping so much anger inside you is not healthy, you should know." Luna adopted a forlorn expression as she thought back to the time she was still Nightmare Moon. It was the darkest part of her life, now, and probably forever. Luna did not want to see her lover succumb to the same feelings that corrupted her. Lucifer's expression softened as he rose from his bed to a sitting position and patted the spot beside him. Luna quickly hopped on the bed and nuzzled Lucifer's side as he did the same. "You're right, love. It's not healthy keeping these emotions inside but so does one's past failures. What you were in the past does not dictate what you are now. You regretted your mistakes, and you tried your hardest to fix them. You are a wonderful mare, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Luna smiled. She knew that she should not feel guilty for what she did so many years ago, but the feeling just simply would not go away. She felt so lucky to have Lucifer to be her anchor. It was quite funny, considering she was his anchor for such a long time. Luna's smile turned less innocent as she used her magic to push Lucifer on his back. Before he could even voice his surprise, he found two pair of soft lips slam into his, Luna's form straddled his as the kiss turned more and more needy as time progressed. By the time Luna broke the kiss, the two panted heavily and their eyes shone with want of each other. Luna yelped when she felt Lucifer's arm wrap around her and bring her down on the mattress. Lucifer bent down until his warm breath tickled Luna's ear. "I will make you scream so hard that the entire city will know of our love," he whispered. Luna could feel a certain part of her getting quite damp as Lucifer started to work on her body in ways she had never thought were possible. Michael sighed in relief as the constant moans and shouts finally ceased. They started almost as soon as Michael's head hit the pillow, and had been continuing for the better part of the night. Frustrated and with nothing better to do, Michael rose from the bed and walked through the doors leading out to a balcony overlooking the land. Even Michael had to admit that the view was breathtaking. Everything from the distant snow-capped mountains in the horizon to the star-filled skies was simply stunning. For the first time since his arrival, Michael found himself smiling. This smile, however, vanished almost instantly when he felt something behind him. "I know you are there. There is no need to hide," Michael called. Lucifer emerged from the shadows, glaring at Michael. "I did not attempt to hide. In fact, I came here to talk." Michael raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You certainly did not seem very talkative earlier today." Lucifer squinted his eyes but otherwise remained still. "Listen very carefully Michael, because I will only say it once: Stay. Away. From Luna. If you touch her, if a single strand of hair drops from her mane-" Lucifer's left arm suddenly turned black and crooked, supporting nasty looking claws. "-I will show you hell that you wouldn't believe." Michael did not utter a single word, instead opting to stare at Lucifer's arm. He swallowed hard before looking up at Lucifer's eyes. His gray orbs promised pain and suffering. "Do I make myself clear?" Lucifer whispered harshly. Michael nodded. "Good. And remember, the others might get me in a fight but not before I turn your head into a fucking canoe." And with that said, Lucifer was swallowed by the darkness, leaving Michael alone once again.
Eating with the enemyLucifer groggily opened his eyes as the sun rays hit his face with a vengeance. Despite the fact that he did not require any form of rest he simply felt exhausted. The fact that his former comrades were residing in the castle he was living has kept the fallen angel from falling asleep. Lucifer tried to adjust himself in the bed, an act that was considerably harder than usual thanks to a certain blue alicorn. Luna sighed contently as she nuzzled Lucifer's neck, her hooves tightening around him ever so slightly. Looking down at Luna, Lucifer could not help but smile softly. She looked so calm and content. Lucifer wanted nothing more in life but to see Luna happy. "At least someone is having a good time," Lucifer silently whispered to no one in particular. He wrapped his arms around Luna, feeling the rise and fall of her chest, the heat of her breath on his neck, and the velvety touch of her coat. Lucifer managed to free his wings from under his back and encased himself and Luna in a black, feathery cocoon. The warmth of his feathers earned a sigh of content from the both of them. After a while of rest Lucifer felt Luna shuffling next to him. Luna's eyes fluttered open, looking up and meeting Lucifer's gaze. Lucifer smiled before kissing Luna on the nose. "Good morning, princess." Luna hummed, pecking Lucifer on the lips. "Good morning to you too, my little angel." "Former angel," Lucifer corrected. "Hmm, depends on who you ask…" Luna replied groggily. "You're too cute for words, you know that?" "I had a feeling." Lucifer chuckled, shuffling in bed. "Well, as much as I would love nothing more than to continue this playful banter, I have a shower with my name on it, so…" Luna sighed before releasing Lucifer from her grip. Lucifer hopped off the bed and stretched, his wing tips almost touching the opposite ends of the room. He turned to face Luna and asked, "What about you, Luna? You coming?" Luna shook her head. "I think I will sleep in for a little longer." Lucifer nodded, mainly to himself, and entered the lavish bathroom adjacent to his shared bedroom with Luna. Lucifer enjoyed a thorough shower before stepping in front of the mirror above the sink. The former angel inspected his reflection, paying close attention to the scars he had around his eyes, a permanent reminder of his failure to conquer heaven and a personal symbol of shame. "Really? I need to shave again?" he spoke to himself. Lucifer looked at the straight razor lying on the counter next to the sink and shook his head. "Maybe some other time. I can't be bothered right now." Making sure his teeth were brushed, Lucifer stepped out of the bathroom just in time for Luna rose from their shared bed. "Bathroom all yours, Luna. I'll be heading for the dining hall and make sure our… ugh… 'guests' are not doing anything stupid." Luna giggled before giving Lucifer a brief kiss and walking past him. "I'll meet you there shortly. Try not to strangle our guests." "I make no promises," Lucifer replied as he exited the bedroom and made his way towards the dining hall. During his walk there Lucifer let out a pulse of pure energy, undetectable by ponies since it did not rely on their own magic but rather, his own unique one. After a few moments of nothing noteworthy happening, Lucifer sent out another, stronger, pulse. Lucifer's eyes shifted for a fraction of a second when he picked a tremendous amount of force being centered inside the very place he was heading towards. "It seems that my 'friends' are already up and about, joy," Lucifer grumbled, walking a bit faster. The gears in his mind worked overtime as he tried to come into grips with recent events. God was playing another one of his little games and Lucifer had no intention of participating. Sending the six archangels who hunted Lucifer down during his insurrection is more than infuriating, it was demeaning. Lucifer was better than that. Lucifer ignored the two guards that stood vigilant next to the door leading to the dining hall and practically went through it if one of the guards had not pushed the door open. Lucifer ignored the stares as he made his way to his seat next to Celestia, only… "This is my spot," Lucifer spoke coldly, looking down at Michael. "That is odd," Michael responded, "I did not see your name written on it." Lucifer raised his brow. Did Michael just back talked to him? The kid had more balls than what Lucifer gave him credit for, but ultimately, he was playing with fire. "That's because if you don't find somewhere else to sit, I will carve my name into your skull." Michael adjusted himself in 'his' seat. "If you think even for a moment that I am afraid of you than-" "Michael, find another place to sit!" Gabriel's voice rang across the hall, gaining the attention of the two rivaling angels. Michael clenched his fists under the table before taking a big breath. He stood up from the seat and chose to sit next to Gabriel. That's right cub, learn your place… Lucifer sat next to Celestia, who watched the entire thing unfold while reading the morning newspaper. "Good morning, Celestia. Sorry that you had to waste your precious time next to that uptight prick." Celestia chuckled. "I lived for more than a thousand years, Morningstar. I think I can survive a few minutes." Lucifer huffed, glaring at the others. "Unless they stab you in the back," he muttered. "Pardon?" "Oh nothing, just the rumblings of a tired man. Say, did you finish reading the newspaper?" Lucifer asked. "Why yes. Do you want to read?" Celestia levitated the newspaper towards Lucifer. The fallen angel took the newspaper from the air and willed a pen in his hand before opening the newspaper on the very last page and putting on his reading glasses. "No, I just enjoy solving the crossword puzzle," Lucifer answered as he started scribbling down. "A place of eternal punishment, eight words… hmm.. ah! Tartarus!" "Hey Lucy, what's up with the glasses?" Azrael asked. "I thought Angels don't need glasses." Lucifer rolled his eyes before addressing Azrael. "You see Azrael, when one's eyes were gouged out, most violently I must add, it would sometimes cause medical issues down the line. I'm only grateful that I need only reading glasses." That seemed to shut Azrael up as the room lapsed into an awkward silence. The six archangels stared at Lucifer as he deliberately ignored them, jutting down on the newspaper. Meanwhile, Celestia took advantage of her distracted guests to inspect them in detail. Raphael and Azrael sat together, the former whispering something to the latter while the latter merely nodded, only half listening. Looking closely it was apparent that Azrael's attention was easily distracted, seeing as he often glanced across the room and follow the intricate tapestries that lined the walls of the vast room. A glance to the other side of the table revealed Gabriel, Uriel and Cassiel in deep conversation, the three occasionally glancing towards Lucifer and Michael. And speaking of Michael… The man glared at Lucifer as if in the hopes it would be enough to physically hurt him. Celestia sensed that the two shared a much deeper past than what she initially expected. She wondered why Michael called Lucifer a traitor. She only knew bits and pieces about Lucifer's past. Any attempts to bring the subject up before Lucifer was met with the same results. Lucifer would claim that he would rather forget the past and instead focus on the future, and then he would change the subject. The air was so tense that even the guards that lined the walls of the hall fidgeted uncomfortably in their places, so it was with little to no surprise that when Luna strutted into the hall every eye turned towards her. "Apologies for the delay," Luna declared as she made her way to her seat next to Celestia and Lucifer. "I had… important business to attend to." Lucifer cracked a smile. He knew that by 'important business' what Luna actually meant was that she had taken her sweet time in the bath. Lucifer's smile grew when Luna pecked his cheek after she sat down next to him. "So, now that we are all present-" Celestia started, clapping her hooves together. An impressive amount of chefs and butlers came through a side entrance to the dining hall, carrying all sorts of foods, "-Dig in!" Lucifer watched with curiosity as the archangels grabbed whatever suit them fancy and started eating in earnest, the only one who did not take anything was, of course, mister stick-in-the-ass himself. "Is there a particular reason why you are not eating anything, Angel Michael?" Celestia inquired, eating a spoonful of cereals. Today was her cheat day, and she was going to abuse it indefinitely. "Angels do not require sustenance, we do not gain anything by eating," Michael replied. "Still, it is not polite to turn down your hostess, especially since we will be staying here for the foreseeable future. And besides-" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone! What do you mean by 'foreseeable future'?!" Lucifer exclaimed, cutting Cassiel off. "You're not actually thinking about staying here, do you?!" "We are." Cassiel cleaned his mouth with a napkin before continuing. "As from this day until further notice, you, Lucifer Morning star are under the watch of the forces of heaven and will be confined to this world until your punishment is decided." "This is ridiculous! An outrage! I have been pardoned by God himself!" Lucifer rose from his seat, his blood boiling. "You have been pardoned for your actions against God and the kingdom of heaven, Lucifer!" Cassiel exclaim, rising from his seat as well. "But you have committed atrocities against mortal-kind! This is not up for debate! Or-" the other archangels rose from their seats. "You would rather have your punishment here and now…" Silence. Completely and utter silence. Both Luna and Celestia stared curiously at Lucifer, who seemed to be glaring at the others, but despite his efforts to hide it, the princesses saw something else under the mask of fury. It was dread. Anxiety. Petrifying fear. "I… understand…" Lucifer finally said, sitting down. The others followed suit. "Splendid!" Cassiel smiled as if nothing has happened. "Believe me when I tell you Lucifer that I want nothing more than to see you happy." "Oh really?" Lucifer asked skeptically. "Where was this empathy when I was hunted down like an animal?" Raphael sighed, facing Lucifer. "Please Lucifer, try to see it from our point of view. You are our brother. It tore us apart when we had to fight you." Lucifer scoffed, sending a nasty glare towards Raphael. "I have no brothers." Lucifer looked down at his plate before rising from his seat, looking down at Luna, who looked up at him with worried eyes. "Excuse me. I need time to think." Instead of walking out of the dining hall, Lucifer turned into a shroud of black smoke and embers and passed through the windows, disappearing from sight. "He didn't really mean that, did he?" Azrael asked, looking sadly where Lucifer was last seen. "Lucifer is simply mad because he believes that he has permission to do whatever he pleases," Uriel replied, taking a sip from his cup of tea. "He is, however, gravely mistaken." "I am sorry to interrupt your conversation," Celestia started, gaining the attention of all six angels. "But what Morningstar did to force such a response?" "I am sorry princess, truly, but we are not allowed to speak of it with others," Cassiel replied. Luna stood up from her seat, looking around before finally setting her gaze on Celestia. "I will look for Morningstar, I hope you can understand, Tia." "I am, sister, may fortune favor you." Luna nodded and gathered her magic, and with a flash of blue, Luna teleported away.
